Time for National Service

No one in the USA should have to go without the basic necessities of life. There should be jobs for those who are able.

There should be education for those who need the training.

There should be aid for those who cannot take care of themselves.

However, the public should not provide for the able but unwilling.

In times of national emergency, citizens have been conscripted into public service to fight wars, yet today we conscript no one into public service to fight homelessness, poverty, hunger and illness.

We are paying the unemployed while housing goes un-built; farm produce un-picked; public spaces un-kempt and the elderly un-cared for.

We lack the national will and the national patriotism to take care of each our on selves or our nation’s needs.

At a minimum, there should be a two-year national public service mandate, much like the rest of the world. The most menial and dangerous jobs would go first to those conscripted into public service who were able, but not otherwise willing to serve.

Employment, self-employment or continuing public service would be expected of those able; the dignity of pensions and health care for those no longer able.